Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-12-31

fro thinking; and his thoughts were o.
her. He had long ago admitted to- nseE
mat he was too hasty when ne GROW his
only daughter away from his home; bet ne
still remained silent. At each family re-
union, always held on Christmas day, he
had missed her. And as the coming ons
was to be held at his house, and his broth.
ers and sisters with their families would
| be there, he, with some bitterness of feel
| ing, was brooding over the fact, thai
| through no fault of his, he reasoned, the
pleasures of the day would be marred
Everybody missed Mary; the children OF
his nephews and nieces would ask for her
and talk about her, despite the admoni-
As he was busy with his thoughts, gazing
the while moodily into the fire, and now
d t. On punching up the rore-stlcks IN q
& htei Al sort of way, Grandma Botsworth
sudde My spoke up and said:
"T0-morrerll be another white Christ
mas. This makes two on em right hand
runnin'. Three years ago was a mighty
mild winter, and We had green Christmas
that year."
Here the old lady paused and heaved a
sigh. No one said anything, and she con-
tinued: Il recolleck now there was more
buryin's that year in the Bald Hill buryin'
groun' than there has been since, all put
together"
eyes," assented Mrs. Botsworth, re-
fectively, "a green Christmas alters makes
a fat graveyard. they say, an I never
knewed it to fail"
Il reckon it'll be good sleighin' to-mor-
rer," observed Uncle Billy, "an' all tho
folks'H come over in the bobs- Eth!
what's that?"
The exclamation with which he con-
cluded his remark was caused by the furi-
Gus barking of old Maze" the watch-d dog,
the sound Of voices in the front yard, and
what seemed to be the cry of child in fear.
The two boys started for the front door,
while the remainder of the family sat in
tently listening, and wondering who could
be their visitors. They had not long to
wait; for a minute later the sitting-reom
door was flung open and Jacob strobe in,
bearing in his arms bright and lusty two
year-old boy. Almost snatching the wraps
from about it, and holding the little fellow
up, he shouted: "Pap, look at your
grandson; Filsey's come, an this is her
boy"
"The devil it u.s." roared Uncle Billy,
springing to his feet, with face as black
as thunder cloud. take him away; I
don't want ter see him."
Hold on minute" shouted clear,
strong voice in the doorway. It was the
SON. in-law who had spoken, and who now
stepped into the room, his figure erect and
his eyes blazing with anger. Hold on
minute, 1 say" he continued; Il want a
word. Bill Botsworth, can buy an sell
you. am rich man, but you don't have
TO own me for a son-in-law on that &C.
count AS for me, can get along without
you. But Mary here wanted to come back
and see her mother and all of you once
more, and said she should; and, more
IAN that, said you should treat her and
baby right, or I'd make you; and, by thun-
der, I'll do it! Understand me, ask no
favors for myself, but for this poor girl
here, that you've treated so mean, and who
still loves you, but who wants to come
home, only for little while, will
speak for, and fight for, too.
if necessary" Even while he was
talking mother and daughte- were
weeping in each others embrace. and
Grandma Botsworth, rising with difficulty
from her seat, laid her hand on her sons
shoulder. William" she said. shows as